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I was not aware that when I return to the US after a week in Costa Rica later this month that DHS could seize my cell phone, IPOD, and computer until I read this week’s newsletter from by Scott. As a US citizen I am appalled by this latest affront and just hope I can find suitable property in CR soon and buy it. I will be curious to see what, if anything happens when I return to this country. I bought Hal’s book out of curiousity after reading about it here and figure I am now on a list somewhere (if I wasn’t before) so I’ll probably be grabbed. Hope they don’t like my playlists and give me back my Ipod right away! And I’ll leave my computer at home. I’m so tired of all of this fearmongering which just leads to more power for Big Brother and less rights for me.
I for one am removing any sensitive information, including any CR business related items and simply e-mailing the information to my work VPN where I can access it from anywhere in the world. My time line for moving has gone from 10-15 years to 5 years within the last year.
How long until the US bars its citizens from leaving the country without applying for “permission”? Imagine the day (soon), when you purchase non-refundable tickets for your entire family only to be denied boarding at the airport because permission was not granted.
You have always had to apply for permission to leave the U.S. Try going to Cuba and see what happens. Better still, try coming BACK to the U.S. from Cuba after entering Cuba via a free country like Canada.
Pornography and literature promoting the over throw of the US has always been illegal to import. Seizures of personal property happens all the time. How they go about identifying citizens for seizures is what has to be examined here.Edited on Aug 05, 2008 08:31
Edited on Aug 05, 2008 08:52
With busy lives, it’s often very difficult for people to keep in touch with what is going on around them. We foolishly assume that the authorities are doing their best to enforce the laws and protect us…
Unfortunately as my Sergeant Major used to say to all us in the Royal Marines: “When you ‘ASS-U-ME’ you make an a** out of U and you make an a** out of me so never assume.!”
After the authorities gain more power, they will never relinquish it, they will only want more and create the conditions where the people foolishly request that the government do exactly what they had been planning to do anyway.
History is full of examples where a government will deliberately manufacture or create a problem, they will then carefully manage the perception of that problem so that we request a government reaction to come up with the solution that they had planned for all along.
I am deeply distressed at what is happening to freedom, privacy and democracy in the country of birth (Scotland and the UK – a land filled with surveillance cameras) and the country of my children – the USA.
While the US prattles on about bringing ‘freedom and ‘democracy’ (more lies…) to the rest of the world, back home they are OBVIOUSLY doing everything they can to scare the living daylights out of us, to control us more and make us less free, and if anyone disagrees with that statement then they simply aren’t following what’s been going on …
I have written about this before and fully expect that within the next 5-10 years (probably sooner if GWB’s and his neo-loonies are insane enough to attack Iran – and there’s plenty of evidence to doubt his sanity) that US citizens and many others will be required to “apply” to leave the USA and retire in other countries “for their own security.”
And while you face difficulties leaving and entering your own country on vacation, a million illegal aliens walk across the Mexico border into the USA every year… Makes perfect sense huh?
I like to think I have a good sense of humor but I do not find politics remotely amusing and I am deadly serious about what I said and if you use a little imagination you will see that measures are already being put in place to make this happen…
You might wish to take a look at where it states that:
The proposed new rules include:
“All would-be passengers on international or domestic flights to, from, over, via, or within the U.S. would have to have both government-issued ID credentials and explicit case-by-case prior permission from the DHS to the airline to allow each passenger to board a plane.”
And…
“The proposed rules would enforce the requirements for papers and permits through default provisions that would:
Forbid any airline from issuing a boarding pass to anyone, or allowing them to board a plane, unless and until the airline received individual permission (a “cleared message”) authorizing that airline to allow that specific person on that specific flight.“
Have you read ‘SPYCHIPS: How Major Corporations and Government Plan to Track Your Every Purchase and Watch Your Every Move (Paperback)?’ [ http://www.amazon.com/Spychips-Major-Corporations-Government-Purchase/dp/0452287669/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217951218&sr=8-1 ]
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.comI agree with everything above.
Regarding ID’s, they are already required for international travel in the form of passports. And the permission for international travel to certain countries already comes in the form of a visa. These things I agree with. That they are considering the above rules for domestic travel is disturbing. And special permission to leave the country to retire is also a bad thing. I don’t understand why taht would even be a matter of concern for any government unless they are intent on jailing an entire population from running from intolerable conditions.
Edited on Aug 05, 2008 14:42
Scott’s take on the situation is enlightening because he sees it from two perspectives. As a foreigner, and as a parent with children who are US citizens.
As a US citizen, and a parent myself, I have to agree that things do not look good as far as our future freedoms to travel abroad, and possibly within our own borders in the coming years. Fear has taken hold, and a reactionary government is taking it out on their own.
Individual freedom is the foundation the USA was built upon. And now the collective protection of its citizens is turning that principle on its head. We are exchanging security, for our former freedoms and privileges. When a government finds reason not to trust its own citizenry, something has gone horribly wrong.
The sky is not falling…..Yet! But, we have to be vigilent in our protection of our rights, privileges, privacy and freedoms, as well as our national security.
I completely agree with Scott on this one – our government is very good at creating fear so that we ask for something they wanted to do anyway. SO many examples, but the “terror alert” color system is standing out for some reason. Of course, one of my concers is that if we citizens were more educated then GWB and others like him wouldn’t be elected – much less twice!!!!! So the people have to take responsibility, in the end. As long as we ignore what is going on and keep electing these people, it won’t change. ANd maybe it wouldn’t anyway, but I like to think there is hope.
I’m sooooo worried about having my stuff taken away from me in Miami…. NOT! Finally a law with some common sense. Our concerns about offending people have led to a ridiculous absence of standards in securing our country, and I like the fact that a customs officer can suspect something and act on it.
What I don’t like one bit is standing in line at the airport behind a 20-something mother with one baby in her arms and another clinging to her while TSA makes a big stink about the sippy cup filled with apple juice that she forgot to remove from her diaper bag. While they are scaring her 3 year-old to death and exhausting her further with detention and further inspections of her luggage, someone who might actually BE a threat might easily walk through with malicious intent and not be noticed while the agents are concerned about “Mom.”
Personally, I have nothing to hide so I couldn’t care less if they want to look at the files on my laptop. They’re not looking to waste my time or theirs, so if they feel compelled to check it out for some reason, I’m sure I’ll get it back quickly. But I doubt it will happen.
If we have a problem up there it is that too many government employees are lazy and/or apathetic. I carry something quite conspicuous (but innocent) with me whenever I travel. TSA agents are required to inspect it every time I pass through security. How often do they do it? Maybe 25%. This despite my multiple letters reporting their ineptitude. I just got back from a trip to the SE USA and my item was not inspected at one single airport. I’ll worry about terrorists while you guys worry about somebody looking at your grandbaby’s jpeg files.
It is not certain that our rights to privacy will be further eroded but it could come to pass easily. Americans have always been easily frightened and have always been xenophobic so it wouldn’t take much for any government to convince Americans they need their guns and the travel restrictions as well as a host of other wrong minded false protections.. I am watching with interest and hedging my bet by considering hurrying up my exit to Costa Rica.
This is not about whether or not you have something to hide. It is about your individual right to privacy and freedom to travel. Neither of those rights are likely to impinge on the freedoms, safety or other rights of other citizens. That is all that should be considered. And feel free to worry all you want to about terrorists. Just please don’t impose your neurotic fears on the rest of us and make us go through these silly chinese fire drills at the airports.
Edited on Aug 05, 2008 14:40
“if we citizens were more educated then GWB and others like him wouldn’t be elected – much less twice!!!!!” – salamander
There appears to be an assumption in these forums that all Americans are liberal, so it is therefore acceptable to ridicule conservatives ad nauseam. To those who have appointed themselves the world’s intellectually blessed elite, I would like to reply that I am quite well educated and conservative. Scandalous, I know!
This is not complicated. There are millions of people in the world who hate the United States and want to kill all of its citizens – Including women, children, the elderly and the sick. Some of you may even recall something that happened 7 years ago on September 11 in New York. Although extremely unconventional, we are indeed in a war. Wars have evolved throughout history and we’re currently watching the next phase of the evolution. I’m sorry, but our enemies no longer wear bright red coats and line up in fields to attack.
I’m not sure who “these people” are, but might they include Nancy Pelosi? Herry Reid? Dick Durbin? John Edwards? Hillary Clinton?
Liberal Democrats have majorities in both the House and the Senate. They will likely have enough of a majority to prevent a filibuster in the next term. I can only hope that Obama wins so he can get the blame that his party so deserves for the mess they are going to make. He probably will, as McCain is admittedly too old for the job.
I voted for “GWB.” Twice! Am I delusional? No. The first time around our choice was President Bush or Al Gore who said that the internal combustion engine is “a mortal threat . . . more deadly than that of any military enemy.” The next time around we were given the incumbent and John “I voted for the war before voting against it” Kerry. Are these really the best options the Democrats can offer? I pray not.
This year… A year when the Democrats should by all accounts have a gift on election day… We’re given a little-known, inexperienced, possibly racist Senator with a “funny name,” who wants to be President of all 57 states vs. a war hero who has seen the best of his career, can’t remember the details of the middle eastern countries he considers his policy strengths, won’t commit to protecting our borders against illegal entry and won’t support drilling in ANWR. How exciting.
Conservative principles are what the United States was built upon. They made us strong. They made us successful. They made us a world power. They are being slowly chipped away and with them are our glory days. Barak Obama… John McCain… Neither is prepared or equipped to take the corrective action necessary. Our laptops and Customs are the least of our worries.
And Kenneth, you don’t want to ask why: “There are millions of people in the world who hate the United States…”?
Certainly millions more today than there were before 9/11…
Could it be that we’ve been poking our noses where they don’t belong for hundreds of years?
They don’t all hate us, they hate what we’ve been doing to them.
Could it be because we have at least 350,000 US military personnel deployed worldwide in more than 1,000 US bases and or military installations in 130 countries? [ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/global-deployments.htm ]
You libs are so predictable. I knew these questions were coming. I even considered answering them in advance, but it was more fun to watch the obvious, repetitive chant of the left wing respond so typically.
As for why there are millions of people who hate the USA, it is because we are not a predominantly Muslim nation. Their religion teaches them that we are one of the infidels, along with every other non-Muslim nation on earth, but our status makes us the most difficult (therefore most important) target. It has nothing to do with what we have done for them (or did you say “to” them?).
If you would like a response to your question regarding our alleged “poking our noses where they don’t belong for hundreds of years,” then you’ll have to be more specific. Be forewarned, however, that your ideology will be shot down like a late-November turkey. Liberal ideology is not intellectually sound, therefore it cannot withstand the test of debate.
Which of the 130 countries (I have not researched your number) in which we have military bases would like to have us leave? If you want me to dance, tell me the tune.
Well, interesting discussion. it’s good to see that the 1st Amendment is still alive and well, at least here. And while I agree with sprite, completely, learning is about listening. I hope everyone is doing that. Here’s to peace and privacy.
My God! You’re so awesomely smart Kenneth – To think that you know all the answers before we even think of the questions. And the answers are all so simple – Wow!
So we should keep poking our noses where they don’t belong and keep our armed forces in all of those foreign countries. That should resolve the situation.
I’ll sleep a whole lot better now that Kenneth has solved all our problems by doing and changing absolutely nothing.
Thanks, bradbard. I sincerely appreciate your obviously genuine recognition of my brilliance. It appears that you were so in awe (you used thew word: awesome) that you forgot to respond to the specifics.
I would still like to know exactly where it is that we have been “poking our noses where they don’t belong for hundreds of years.” Particularly since our country is only 232 years old. According to your claim we have apparently been after some type of world domination since the very beginning. I’m certainly not in favor of poking our noses where they don’t belong. Naw-Naw-Naw.
I have also re-read your post, but I don’t see a response to my query about which of the “130 countries” have asked us to leave. I’m pretty sure that one of them, at least, is a warm, welcoming host.
For the record, I’m really not awesomely smart. I’m actually just trying to learn, which is why I’m asking questions.
Sweet dreams.
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